Well today officially marks one month of being in England! Being here has become normal, sometimes I even forget I'm in another country. Days have fallen into a type of routine and classes are in full swing. I have met so many great people and I am so thankful for the awesome friends I've made. My time here would not be half as memorable if it were not for all of the wonderful people I have become close with.
I have taken 2 day trips to other parts of England since being here. Edge Hill's student union paired with a bus touring company to offer students the opportunity to see popular English tourist destinations. They are around 30 pounds (or 50 dollars) for a day filled with a guided bus/walking tour along with time to explore independently.
First, I went to York. The history and the buildings in the small town is so interesting and beautiful; I am extremely grateful I was able to experience it first hand. York was discovered in the 12th or 13th century. There were wood walls created by the Vikings surrounding the town but they were replaced with brick and a moat to keep out unwanted visitors. There are only six gates entering the city and the Queen is only allowed to enter through the Mickel Gates Bar with a special knock.
In York, we walked through the town seeing modern day clothing stores along with small souvenir shops. There was also a free walking tour we took part of which explained the history of the city more in depth. If you are in England, York is a must see!
A beautiful cathedral called the York Minster
You can see the 4 layers of brick all built in different centuries
And now for the Lake District!
Words cannot describe how beautiful and perfect the Lake District is. It is a National Park about 1.5 hours north of Edge Hill full of Lakes, rivers mountains and valleys. Fun Fact: there is technically only 1 lake in the Lake District, called Lake Windamere. The rest are called Tarns and Meres. We took a boat ride around Lake Windamere, viewing some if its islands and the beautiful homes around the lake. We also went for a small hike through the forest and drove around the mountains on roads way too small for the bus (A warning sign said no vehicles over 6'6" wide were allowed… Our bus was 9' wide).
Our bus driver, Frank, was knowledgable yet really fun and personable. We listened to Beatrix Potter children's stories on the drive up. I didn't think I knew who she was, but after hearing Peter Rabbit, I remember hearing her stories as a child. She lived and got all of her inspiration from the Lake District. We stopped at the birthplace of Gingerbread! It was the smallest store I have ever seen, but it is where Sarah Nelson created Gingerbread. Of corse we had to buy some and try it for ourselves, and let me tell you, it is worth the hype. If you are interested in nature, hiking or merely a beautiful view, the Lake district is a must!
Beautiful, Breathtaking, Surreal
Next Blog: My Weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland!
